Naval War College and Salve Regina host AI national security forum

The U.S. Naval War College partnered with Salve Regina University to host the third Forum at Newport, focusing on artificial intelligence and national security implications. The event brought together military leaders, academics, and industry experts to examine how AI technologies are reshaping defense strategies and preparing tomorrow’s military leaders for emerging challenges.

What you should know: The forum featured keynote remarks from Admiral (ret.) Michael S. Rogers, former commander of U.S. Cyber Command, emphasizing the critical intersection of AI and national security.
• The event was designed to strengthen collaboration between the two Rhode Island institutions and foster scholarship on global security issues.
• A panel discussion included experts from the Naval War College, Boston University, and autonomous vessel company HavocAI, covering AI’s military applications.

Why this matters: Military educational institutions are prioritizing AI literacy as the technology becomes increasingly central to national defense and strategic competition.
• “It has been inspiring to see the energy with which the military students of the U.S. Naval War College and their counterparts at Salve Regina University tackle the crucially important topics surrounding cyber security in the modern world,” said NWC President Rear Adm. Darryl Walker.
• The forum addresses the urgent need to educate military leaders who will navigate AI-driven warfare and cyber threats.

Key participants: The panel brought together diverse perspectives from military, academic, and private sector backgrounds.
• U.S. Navy Capt. (ret.) Dr. Michael O’Hara, dean of NWC’s Center for Naval Warfare Studies.
• U.S. Army Lt. Col. (ret.) Dr. Chris Demchak, professor in NWC’s Cyber and Innovation Policy Institute.
• Dr. Naomi Saphra, assistant professor of Computing and Data Science at Boston University.
• Benjamin Cipperly, Navy veteran and chief strategy officer of autonomous surface vessel company HavocAI.

The big picture: The forum represents a broader trend of military institutions investing in AI education and cross-institutional collaboration.
• Walker emphasized that through events like this, institutions are “truly educating tomorrow’s leaders for competition, crisis and conflict.”
• The partnership will continue with alternating venues, with next year’s forum taking place on the Salve Regina campus.

Looking ahead: The Naval War College and Pell Center at Salve Regina University plan to maintain the Forum at Newport series as an ongoing platform for critical dialogue on global security issues.